The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1887-11-17
MARY'S OUNCES.

$50 you won't give US nothin' for the
subscriptions" said Mrs. Biggard, fold
ing her mittened hands sanctimonious-
ly upon her lap. Remember, Mary
Hay, he who giveth to the poor lendeth
to the Lord"
"Yes, know, Mrs. Biggard," said
Mary Hay, with the color coming and
going on her cheek, while sense of
the ridiculous strove within her against
meek consciousness of the sOlemnity
of the words just quoted; "but the farm
hasn't done as well this year as we ex-
pected, and until all the outstanding
debts are paid l think it would be
scarcely just to indulge myself in the
luxury of subscribing to the Fund for
Evangelizing the Eboe Indians"
Mrs. Biggard clasped the little red
morocco subscription-book with
clicking sound.
"Humph!" said she, 'why don't you
say at once that you had rather spend
your money in navy-blue silk-gowns
and tiashy bonnets?"
Mary Redeemed to the roots of her
hair.
Perhaps you are not aware, Mrs.
Biggard." said she, "that the navy
blue dress was mothers old one dyed
over at home, and that the bonnet
was present from my aunt in Spring
field. F"
''Au very well to talk" sputtered
Mrs. Biggard, shaking out her
multitudinous flounces. But | know
that Mr.. Mildmay will be powerfully
disappointed. He expects something
besides empty talk from the ladies
of his flock
Once more the roseate color suffused
Mary's cheek.
MY duty is my duty" she said, "and
| cannot swerve from it to please any
one, not even Mr.. Mildmay"
And the amiable Mrs. Biggard went
straight to the rectory and told Mr..
Miidmay ''that Mary Hay said she
warn't a-goin' to subscribe to the
fund to please Mr.. Mildmay or any one
else"
The rector listened in silence, but
he was conscious of pang of inward
annoyance.
He had scarcely expected so curt a
message from Mary Hay, in whose
dove-like blue eyes he had so often read
the light of sympathy, whose down
cast head reminded him of the beauti-
full mater Dolorosa.
80 different from my Ruey, now,
amt she?' said Mrs. Biggard. "Why,
Ruey she's fairly walked through the
soles of pair o boots a-solcitin' SUBJ
scriptions for the fund. There never
was nobody so devout as she is. And
she wants to know-my Ruev does
ho nj A on,,,o
over to the rectory an put up the parlor
curtains for you this afternoon?"
Thank you!" said Mr.. Mildmay,
with something of an embarrassed air;
"but dare say that Bridget will do
we'll. I Wouldn't trouble Miss Zeruiah,
and"
90, it won't be no trouble at ALL"
said Mrs. Biggard.
And off she went to give the needful
directions to Zeruiah and Almira, her
two lean middle-aged daughters.
~ do feel such motherly sympathy
for a bachelor clergymanr' said She
There amt no more helpless creature
on the face of the earth.
While Mary Hay, busy at her work
in the farmhouse kitchen, was puzZling
her brains to think of some possible or
impossible plan to get little money
to help kind Mr.. Mildmay's plan
along.
Il wish / could spare something"
she said, ''if it was only a dollar"
II wish you could, my dearw said
gentle Mrs. Hay, who had overheard
the eager words.
Mother" cried Mary, .sthere are
the quinces-down by the railroad!
Why couldn't | sell them at the store?
The trees hang full this year, and the
fruit is beautifully perfect"
Il never thought of that" said Mrs.
Hay. I'VE will go tomorrow and
gather them, Mary-you and l."
Mary went singing about her work
that afternoon. Her heart was light
as any feather. Why, why had she
not remembered the qulnce tree be-
fore? Ounces were rare and high
priced this season, and she thought
she was certain of at least S. for the
crop.
But the next day, when she and her
mother-Mrs. Hay carrying the basket
and Mary trundling the barrow along
before her-went down to the orchard.
whose slopes extended to the glittering
steel rails of the railway, 10, and be-
hold! the trees were utterly stripped of
their golden load.
Mary burst into tears. She satdown
on the edge of the wheelbarrow and
hid her head in her mothers apron like
a child.
10, mother, who has done thispn